What a Year!

I thought 2007 was a pretty good year.  We got married, bought a house, started new jobs, watched one brother graduate from college and the other brother get married, and said goodbye to birth control.  All in all, it was a great year.  But in my book, 2010 beat the socks off of 2007. 

If you think about it, I was "with child" for the entire year.  My last cycle started on 12/18/09, and I conceived somewhere in early January 2010.  I stayed pregnant all the way up until we induced on September 30th.  Since that amazing day, I've enjoyed these last three months at home with Ella to finish off the year.  So yes, I've been "with child" for the entire span of 2010.

I loved just about everything about this year from start to finish.  After that big talk with my husband (the one where he confessed that he thought that I was sad 40% of the time), I resolved to focus on "showing him more of my inner joy" (those were the words I used at the time).  And so I did.  After abstaining from any alcohol at the recommendation of my RE for most of 2009, I let myself enjoy a glass of champagne with him to ring in the new year.  We were celebrating the holidays with my husband's family in Montana, and my mother-in-law would like to think that we conceived there (when I pointed out that the timing wasn't quite right, she tried to take credit for helping me to "relax" during our visit which thus apparently enabled me to conceive...I had to tell myself that this wasn't a battle worth fighting with her--let her think what she wants).  I got the positive pregnancy test in late January, but held my breath until February 16th when we saw that beautiful little flicker of Ella's heartbeat.  I admit that I was so scared of losing another baby, but God surrounded me with a peace and a comfort that I hadn't experienced before.  With each day, my faith and confidence grew, and aside from a few little internal freak-out moments, I truly enjoyed my pregnancy.  And now I love having Ella in my life.  It's so weird to think that she's only been with us for three months, and yet has already had such a huge impact on us. 

I thought I had it all in 2007.  Then the struggles and losses we faced in 2008 and 2009 changed me in unimaginable ways.  But those years helped prepare me for the unmeasurable joy that I experienced in 2010.  And now I earnestly look forward to all that God has in store for us in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Today's blessing is not only the chance to celebrate all that 2010 held for us, but to also celebrate my grandma's birthday.  It was wonderful to see her while we were home, and I'm so glad that Ella had a chance to meet her great-grandmother.